On the Phase Space of Block-Hiding Strategies in Bitcoin-like networks

We calculate the probability of success of block-hiding mining strategies in Bitcoin-like networks. These strategies involve building a secret branch of the block-tree and publishing it opportunistically, aiming to replace the top of the main branch and rip the reward associated with the secretly mined blocks. We identify two types of block-hiding strategies and chart the parameter space where those are more beneficial than the standard mining strategy described in Nakamoto's paper. Our analysis suggests a generalization of the notion of the relative hashing power as a measure for a miner's influence on the network. Block-hiding strategies are beneficial only when this measure of influence exceeds a certain threshold.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figure

Superstring Theory on AdS_3 x G/H and Boundary N=3 Superconformal Symmetry

Superstrings propagating on backgrounds of the form AdS_3 x G/H are studied using the coset CFT approach. We focus on seven dimensional cosets which have a semiclassical limit, and which give rise to N=3 superconformal symmetry in the dual CFT. This is realized for the two cases AdS_3 x SU(3)/U(1) and AdS_3 x SO(5)/SO(3), for which we present an explicit construction. We also provide sufficient conditions on a CFT background to enable a similar construction, and comment on the geometrical interpretation of our results.Comment: 22 pages, harvmac; added reference

Superstrings on AdS_3 and Symmetric Products

Some properties of N=2 superstrings on AdS_3 x N are studied. Their spectrum has the same pattern as 2-d CFTs in the moduli space of symmetric products M^p/S_p, where p is associated with the number of long fundamental strings required to construct the AdS_3 background, and M is the spacetime CFT corresponding to short string excitations of a single long string. Worldsheet operators associated with w long strings correspond to twisted sectors of M^p/S_p.Comment: 43 pages, harvma

Towards observable signatures of other bubble universes

We evaluate the possibility of observable effects arising from collisions between vacuum bubbles in a universe undergoing false-vacuum eternal inflation. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that under certain assumptions most positions inside a bubble should have access to a large number of collision events. We calculate the expected number and angular size distribution of such collisions on an observer's "sky," finding that for typical observers the distribution is anisotropic and includes many bubbles, each of which will affect the majority of the observer's sky. After a qualitative discussion of the physics involved in collisions between arbitrary bubbles, we evaluate the implications of our results, and outline possible detectable effects. In an optimistic sense, then, the present paper constitutes a first step in an assessment of the possible effects of other bubble universes on the cosmic microwave background and other observables.Comment: 17 PRD-style pages including 13 embedded figures. Minor corrections to figures 4 and 7 and added discussion in Sec. III.E.2 and

IIA moduli stabilization with badly broken supersymmetry

Scherk-Schwarz compactification in string theory can be defined as orbifolding by an R symmetry, a symmetry that acts differently on bosons and fermions. Such a symmetry can arise in many situations, including toroidal and orbifold compactifications, as well as smooth Calabi-Yau spaces. If the symmetry acts freely then for large radius there are no tachyons in the spectrum. We focus mainly on stabilization by fluxes, and give examples with all moduli stabilized where the coupling is small and the internal manifold is large. Such models appear to be perturbatively stable with supersymmetry broken at the Kaluza-Klein scale. These are interesting laboratories for a variety of theoretical questions and provide models of a non-supersymmetric landscape.Comment: 18 pages, LATEX, no figures. several refs added to earlier literature on Scherk Schwarz in string theory, discussion of smooth CY made more precis

The Spectrum of N=3 String Theory on AdS_3 x G/H

We continue the study of string theory on AdS_3 x SU(3)/U(1) and AdS_3 x SO(5)/SO(3). We compute the spacetime spectrum of the N=3 supersymmetric dual CFT using worldsheet techniques. The spectrum of chiral primaries coincides for the two models. Unlike N=4 theories, the building block of the symmetric product in spacetime (corresponding to a single long string) is not by itself in the moduli space of a symmetric product.Comment: 18 pages, harvma

A note on Gauge Theories Coupled to Gravity

We analyze the bound on gauge couplings $e\geq m/m_p$, suggested by Arkani-Hamed et.al. We show this bound can be derived from simple semi-classical considerations and holds in spacetime dimensions greater than or equal to four. Non abelian gauge symmetries seem to satisfy the bound in a trivial manner. We comment on the case of discrete symmetries and close by performing some checks for the bound in higher dimensions in the context of string theory.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, Late

"Double-trace" Deformations, Boundary Conditions and Spacetime Singularities

Double-trace deformations of the AdS/CFT duality result in a new perturbation expansion for string theory, based on a non-local worldsheet. We discuss some aspects of the deformation in the low energy gravity approximation, where it appears as a change in the boundary condition of fields. We relate unique features of the boundary of AdS to the worldsheet becoming non-local, and conjecture that non-local worldsheet actions may be generic in other classes of backgrounds.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figures, harvmac. v2: minor changes, references added, version sent to JHEP. v3 minor correction